Hydrocarbon conversion apparatus and method

Abstract

Presented is a method and apparatus for converting both organic and inorganic materials into more desirable products by the expedient of breaking down these materials into their stable molecular constituents and reforming them into more desirable substances. The process involves the use of two chambers. Blended solid and fluid wastes are augered into the first chamber and agitated, preferably by rotating the chamber so that the waste tumbles over internal fins, while a heat gradient is applied. Carbon and inorganic solid wastes are removed from the system and fluid wastes passed to a second chamber where they are again subjected to a heat gradient. Effluents are recovered and condensed. Electromagnetic radiation, preferably from microwaves, and/or lasers, masers or ultrasonic energy is applied to the wastes in both chambers. Liberal use of catalysts is made in the chambers. In addition, the augering system is based on the use of two, counter-rotating, inter-lapped, symmetric augers for positive feed of materials.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method for processing waste materials having volatizable constituents, said method comprising the steps of: 
       feeding waste materials having volatizable constituents into a chamber;  
       adding abrasive materials to said waste materials;  
       stirring said waste materials and said abrasive materials;  
       heating said waste materials in said chamber so that volatizable constituents in said waste materials volatize;  
       separating said volatized constituents;  
       exposing only said volatized gases directly to electromagnetic radiation in order to selectively dissociate molecules within said volatized gases to produce selected byproducts; and  
       recovering said byproducts.  
     
     
       2. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said chamber has an inlet and an outlet, and wherein said heating step further comprises the step of imposing a heat gradient in said chamber, wherein heat is increased from said inlet to said outlet so that each volatizable constituent of said volatizable constituents volatizes at the volatization temperature of said each volatizable constituent. 
     
     
       3. The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said heat gradient is imposed by applying heat to said chamber near said outlet. 
     
     
       4. The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of crushing said waste materials in said chamber. 
     
     
       5. The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of rotating said chamber to agitate said waste materials. 
     
     
       6. A method for processing waste materials having volatizable constituents, said method comprising the steps of: 
       feeding waste materials having volatizable constituents into a chamber;  
       adding abrasive materials to said waste materials;  
       stirring said waste materials and said abrasive materials;  
       heating said waste materials in said chamber so that volatizable constituents in said waste materials volatize;  
       separating said volatized constituents;  
       exposing only said volatized gases directly to wave energy in order to selectively dissociate molecules within said volatized gases to produce selected byproducts; and  
       recovering said byproducts.  
     
     
       7. The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said wave energy is ultrasonic wave energy. 
     
     
       8. The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said chamber has an inlet and an outlet, and wherein said heating step further comprises the step of imposing a heat gradient in said chanter, wherein heat is increased from said inlet to said outlet so that each volatizable constituent of said volatizable constituents volatizes at the volatization temperature of said each volatizable constituent. 
     
     
       9. A method for processing waste materials having volatizable constituents, said method comprising the steps of: 
       feeding waste materials having volatizable constituents into a chamber;  
       adding abrasive materials to said waste materials;  
       stirring said waste materials and said abrasive materials;  
       heating said waste materials in said chamber so that volatizable constituents in said waste materials volatize;  
       rotating said chamber to agitate said waste materials;  
       separating said volatized constituents;  
       exposing only said volatized gases directly to wave energy in order to selectively dissociate molecules within said volatized gases to produce selected byproducts; and  
       recovering said byproducts.  
     
     
       10. The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said chamber has an inlet and an outlet, and wherein said heating step further comprises the step of imposing a heat gradient in said chamber, wherein heat is increased from said inlet to said outlet so that each volatizable constituent of said volatizable constituents volatizes at the volatization temperature of said each volatizable constituent.